Guidelines for law enforcement

These guidelines are intended for law enforcement authorities seeking information about Twitter accounts. Information concerning requests to withhold content on Twitter is available here. More general information is available in our Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, and Twitter Rules.

Twitter is provided to people who live in the United States by Twitter, Inc., a company based in San Francisco, California. Twitter is provided to people who live outside the United States by Twitter International Company, a company based in Dublin, Ireland.

What Account Information Does Twitter Have?

Most Twitter account information is public, so anyone can see it. A Twitter account profile contains a profile photo, header photo, background image, and status updates, called Tweets. In addition, the account holder has the option to fill out a location (e.g., San Francisco), a URL (e.g., twitter.com), and a short "bio" section about the account for display on their public profile. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information on the data we collect from and about users.

Does Twitter Have Access to User-Generated Photos or Videos?

Twitter provides photo hosting for some image uploads (i.e., pic.twitter.com images) as well as Twitter account profile photos, header photos, and account background images. However, Twitter is not the sole photo provider for images that may appear on the Twitter platform. More information about posting photos on Twitter can be found here.

Twitter provides video hosting for some videos uploaded to Twitter (i.e., pic.twitter.com videos) as well as those posted to Periscope and Vine.

What is Periscope?

Periscope is a standalone mobile service that lets users create and share real-time video broadcasts. Please see the Periscope Privacy Statement for more information on the data we collect from and about Periscope users.

What is Vine?

Vine is a standalone mobile service that lets users create and share short looping videos. Please see the Vine Privacy Policy for more information on the data we collect from and about Vine users.

Data Retention Information

Twitter retains different types of information for different time periods, and in accordance with our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Given Twitter's real-time nature, some information (e.g., IP logs) may only be stored for a very brief period of time.

Some information we store is automatically collected, while other information is provided at the user’s discretion. Though we do store this information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy. For example, the user may have created a fake or anonymous profile. Twitter doesn’t require real name use, email verification, or identity authentication. More information on Twitter’s retention policies can be found in our Privacy Policy.

NOTE: Once an account has been deactivated, there is a very brief period in which we may be able to access account information, including Tweets. More information about deactivated accounts is available here. Content deleted by account holders (e.g., Tweets) is generally not available.

Preservation Requests

We accept requests from law enforcement to preserve records, which constitute potentially relevant evidence in legal proceedings. We will preserve, but not disclose, a temporary snapshot of the relevant account records for 90 days pending service of valid legal process.

Preservation requests, in accordance with applicable law, should be signed by the requesting official, include the @username and URL of the subject Twitter profile (e.g., @safety and https://twitter.com/safety), have a valid return official email address, and be sent on law enforcement letterhead. Requests may be sent via the methods described below.

Requests for Twitter Account Information

Requests for user account information from law enforcement should be directed to Twitter, Inc. in San Francisco, California or Twitter International Company in Dublin, Ireland. Twitter responds to valid legal process issued in compliance with applicable law.

Private Information Requires a Subpoena or Court Order

Non-public information about Twitter users will not be released to law enforcement except in response to appropriate legal process such as a subpoena, court order, or other valid legal process – or in response to a valid emergency request, as described below.

Contents of Communications Requires a Search Warrant

Requests for the contents of communications (e.g., Tweets, Direct Messages, photos) require a valid search warrant or equivalent from an agency with proper jurisdiction over Twitter.

Will Twitter Notify Users of Requests for Account Information?

Yes. Twitter's policy is to notify users of requests for their account information, which includes a copy of the request, prior to disclosure unless we are prohibited from doing so (e.g., an order under 18 U.S.C. § 2705(b)). Exceptions to prior notice may include exigent or counterproductive circumstances (e.g., emergencies; account compromises). We may also provide post-notice to affected users when prior notice is prohibited.

What Details Must Be Included in Account Information Requests?

Details about what specific information is requested (e.g., basic subscriber information) and its relationship to your investigation;

NOTE: Please ensure that the information you seek is not available from our public API. We are unable to process overly broad or vague requests.

A valid official email address (e.g., name@agency.gov) so we may get back in touch with you upon receipt of your legal process.

Requests may be submitted by fax or mail; our contact information is available at the bottom of these Guidelines. Requests must be made on law enforcement letterhead.

NOTE: We do not accept legal process via email at this time; our support system does not allow attachments for security reasons.

Production of Records

Unless otherwise agreed upon, we currently provide responsive records in electronic format (i.e., text files that can be opened with any word processing software such as Word or TextEdit).

Records Authentication

The records that we produce are self-authenticating. Additionally, the records are electronically signed to ensure their integrity at the time of production. If you require a declaration, please explicitly note that in your request.

Cost Reimbursement

Twitter may seek reimbursement for costs associated with information produced pursuant to legal process and as permitted by law (e.g., under 18 U.S.C. §2706

Emergency Disclosure Requests

In line with our Privacy Policy, we may disclose account information to law enforcement in response to a valid emergency disclosure request.

Twitter evaluates emergency disclosure requests on a case-by-case basis in compliance with relevant law (e.g., 18 U.S.C. § 2702(b)(8) and Section 8 Irish Data Protection 1988 and 2003). If we receive information that provides us with a good faith belief that there is an exigent emergency involving the danger of death or serious physical injury to a person, we may provide information necessary to prevent that harm, if we have it.

How To Make an Emergency Disclosure Request

If there is an exigent emergency that involves the danger of death or serious physical injury to a person that Twitter may have information necessary to prevent, law enforcement officers can submit an emergency disclosure request through our web form (the quickest and most efficient method).

Alternatively, you may fax emergency requests to 1-415-222-9958 (NOTE: faxed requests may result in a delayed response); please include all of the following information:

Indication on your cover sheet, which must be on law enforcement letterhead, that you're submitting an Emergency Disclosure Request;

Identity of the person who is in danger of death or serious physical injury;

The nature of the emergency (e.g., report of suicide, bomb threat);

Twitter @username and URL (e.g., @safety and https://twitter.com/safety) of the subject account(s) whose information is necessary to prevent the emergency;

The specific information requested and why that information is necessary to prevent the emergency;

The signature of the submitting law enforcement officer; and

All other available details or context regarding the particular circumstances.

Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties

Twitter’s policy is to promptly respond to requests that are properly issued via mutual legal assistance treaty (“MLAT”) or letters rogatory, upon proper service of process.

Assisting a Twitter User

Registered Twitter users can obtain a download of Tweets posted to his or her Twitter account. Directions on how a user can request that information is available in our Help Center.

Twitter does not currently offer users a self-serve method to obtain other, non-public information (e.g., IP logs) about their Twitter accounts. If a Twitter user requires his or her non-public account information, please direct the user to send a request to Twitter via our privacy form. We will respond with further instructions.

Content Removal Requests

If you represent a government or law enforcement agency and would like to have potentially illegal content removed from Twitter for violating local law(s), we ask that you please first review the Twitter Rules and, if applicable, submit a request to have the content reviewed for possible violations of our Terms of Service. An overview on how to report potential violations of the Twitter Rules and Terms of Service is available here. Reporting possible violations of our Terms of Service will ensure that your request is routed to the appropriate team and processed expeditiously.

If you have already submitted a request and have received a response from Twitter indicating that the reported content does not currently violate our Terms of Service, you can submit a request for content to be withheld through our Law Enforcement Request web form: https://support.twitter.com/forms/lawenforcement.

Along with identifying the specific Tweet(s) or account at issue and the local law(s) it (they) may violate, please provide any other potentially helpful context that will lead to the expeditious review of your request. We also require a valid official government or law enforcement email address (e.g., name@agency.gov) so the appropriate team may get back in touch with you upon receipt of your request. Requests submitted through this form are reviewed and responded to during Twitter business hours.

NOTE​: As part of processing your request, Twitter will promptly notify affected users unless we are legally prohibited from doing so (e.g., if we receive a court order prohibiting disclosure). This notification will include a copy of your original takedown request. You may provide a redacted copy of your request with personal information removed for notice purposes.

For more information on our Country Withheld Content policy, please see here.

Government and law enforcement reporters may also request the withholding of content determined to be illegal in their jurisdiction by faxing +1-415-222-9958 (attn: Trust & Safety - Legal Policy) or mailing a hard copy of the request to the following address: